La Villa Bleue-Sidi Bou Said

Despite being in the chic-est town in Tunisia, this luxurious, glamorous hotel still acts as a safe haven from the hot, sticky, tourist-ridden streets on the outside. My abiding memory is returning from a trip to Tunis on the TGM (a real relic from the past and a must for any adventuring tourist) which we had pursued in the midday furnace, with temperatures exceeding 40C. I sprinted through the busy town centre, with the sun still beating down on me, my body dripping with sweat. As soon as I was through the hotel door, I jumped into the beautiful, empty pool, and felt the soothing yet refreshing water washing away all the dust and dirt of our adventure. I stayed there for an hour or so, soaking in the beautiful surrounding views of the Mediterranean. Location: The hotel is situated away from the tourist-ridden buzz of the town centre, and is instead nestled on a cliff, looking out towards the vast expanses of blue sea. Food: A good non-buffet breakfast is hard to pull off, but this place does so in style. You can have it brought to you in any location of the hotel, so naturally we opted to have it looking out onto the Mediterranean. All the food is extremely high quality. The restaurant is rather expensive, and food in Tunisia is very well priced, so I'd recommend looking elsewhere. There's plenty of choice either in Sidi Bou Said or in the neighbouring towns, such as Al Marsa, La Goulette or Tunis itself.

We did not stay there, but had some drinks at their terrace which had a great view of the sea. It was the best service we had in Tunis. Fast, friendly and efficient. Excellent variety of drinks, both alcoholic and non alcoholic. Serenity with a view.

I’m not usually one to leave reviews but do yourself a favor and book any other hotel nearby. This hotel came recommended from a local friend for the location. We stayed 4 nights - excited for the location and upgraded to their top suite. Unfortunately, we ran into problems almost every day. 2 of the 4 nights our AC did not blow cold air - in 40C weather. Woke up completely drenched in the middle of the night. They kept sending someone to “fix” it but nothing changed. Several arguments, 5 calls to the front desk, and 3 days later, they finally believed us and sent a real HVAC tech to fix the problem. The last day/night an electric problem caused all of our outlets to stop working in the room. The towel warmer shocked us. On top of it all, the hot water stopped working. We’re usually easy travelers and aren’t phased by minor discomforts. But for the amount of money paid ($400USD/night) and this being a 5 star hotel - it was totally unacceptable. The hotel manager spoke to us at check-out and proceeded to give us a lecture on how the AC works (even though there was clearly an issue and they sent an HVAC tech from the nearby town to fix it and admitted there was an issue). She grudgingly ended up giving us 10% off our bill and promised us a discount at our next stay. Sorry, this will be the first and LAST time we stay here!

Poor customer service. I wouldn’t recommend them when there are many other hotels with better service in the area. Poor customer service. I wouldn’t recommend them when there are many other hotels with better service in the area. Have stayed in a few places in Sidi Bou Said with a more pleasant experience.

Location: almost at the edge of Sufi Bou Saeed’s cliff, right by a viewpoint with stunning views. You cannot beat the views on their terraces (the breakfast area and the pool area).. The breakfast area terrace has an unobstructed view of the Mediterranean. Access to cars: Even if it’s in the pedestrian area, cars have access to pick you up or drop you off at the hotel entrance. However, expect to pay a higher fare, given that you’d have to ask the hotel to call a taxi for you, or, that most Bolt, InDrive transfer app drivers try to avoid driving through the pedestrian area. You can walk through the pedestrian area yourself (a 10min stroll), but not with suitcases (streets in the pedestrian zone are cobbled and can be slippery). Rooms: There are a few rundown rooms and a few that are not sea view. My advice is to aim for a sea view room that’s been renovated/well-maintained (if you’re staying there, might as well pay extra and enjoy the sea view off your windows, balcony or terrace). Do not count on getting good Wi-Fi inside some of the rooms (depending on the location of your room). But the rooms have safes, are spacious and are clean. Staff: Wonderful staff! They carry a positive attitude and are more than ready to help with any question or request you have. Lubna and Reem (at the reception) excel at providing the best service possible. Kareema and Hamza (breakfast area) carry a cheerful attitude while providing a great service at breakfast. Mariam and Afaf (house-keeping) work nonstop at making sure everything is spick-and-span. The whole crew take their work seriously and always carry a smile on their faces and a can-do attitude.

This place is gorgeous. It's on a hill overlooking the Gulf of Tunis. Just an amazing place. Rooms are nice, people are terrific. The food is also very good. We were here three nights and it was lovely. It is walking distance from many other restaurants and shops. Just a stunner.

A manager beyond the ordinary, he pays close attention to every detail. We experienced this restaurant during a dinner reservation for a sizable group, and it was truly remarkable. The service was flawless, with attentive individuals ensuring everything went smoothly. A team that goes above and beyond, I highly recommend it.